60 years of Jesenko

Klagenfurt restaurant with cult status celebrates anniversary

A very special anniversary was celebrated in a very special restaurant in Klagenfurt.(Bild: Evelyn Hronek)

For six decades, everyone has been meeting at Buffet Jesenko - from the "Viertelputzer" to the provincial governor. The Klagenfurt institution was even awarded the city's coat of arms to mark the anniversary.

Buffet Jesenko, located between Südpark and Klagenfurt's main railway station, celebrated an anniversary. On the occasion of owner Franz Jesenko's 60th birthday, the restaurant was awarded the right to use the city coat of arms by Mayor Christian Scheider.

The restaurant actually looks like a small wooden hut, but 120 guests can celebrate there in summer. "50 fit in the adjoining conservatory and 70 in the garden. I even have my own parking lot," says restaurateur Jesenko, who has been an Austria Klagenfurt fan for decades; he is also a fan of the record ice hockey champions KAC. "My heart is in the hut. All the guests can feel that," smiles Franz. "I'm like daddy to everyone here. And that will be the case for a long time to come." There is a morning pint every Saturday from 9.30 am to 2 pm. A menu is also prepared daily.

The popular landlord Franz Jesenko with the town coat of arms. Many guests have been coming to the rustic pub for decades.(Bild: Christian Tragner)

My whole heart lies in the hut. Everyone at Buffet Jesenko feels that. We've been like one big family for decades.

Franz Jesenko, Gastwirt

Many guests and friends attended the birthday party, including city judges Raimund Plautz and Hans Schaunig. "Everyone comes to my place, from the quarter cleaner to the governor," says Jesenko happily. "Everyone is welcome here. I can tell lots of stories about my guests. We're like one big family."